China apologizes to Costa Rica for passing 'scientific balloon'

(ANSA) - SAN JOSE, FEBRUARY 07 - China apologized to Costa Rica for the transit on February 2 of a "scientific balloon" in the Costa Rican skies of which it acknowledged ownership.

    Through the embassy in San José, the newspaper La Nación writes today, "China reiterated that the balloon observed from various parts of the national territory was of a civilian nature and had scientific purposes, mainly meteorological".

    In addition, the newspaper adds, the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry "assured that the object did not represent any threat" and that "its presence in Costa Rica was due to the fact that it had suffered a deviation from the planned route due to weather conditions and the limited path control capability"

    In the same week, a similar balloon was also observed in the United States, shot down by military aircraft on Saturday off the coast of North Carolina for suspected espionage purposes.

(HANDLE).